New ITV1 series Mr Selfridge in production next month

© ITV

The life of the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge, is the subject of an ambitious new ITV1 drama to be produced by ITV Studios. Created by multi-award winning writer Andrew Davies, Mr Selfridge (working title) tells the story of "Mile a Minute Harry", a man with a mission to make shopping as thrilling as sex. Pioneering and reckless, with an almost maniac energy, he created a theatre of retail where any topic or trend that was new, exciting, entertaining - or sometimes just eccentric - was showcased. The drama is set in London in 1909, at a time when wealthy women were revelling in a new sense of freedom and modernity.

Titanic starts on ITV1 Sunday, 25th March

© ITV - ABC - ZDF - TFI
Cast of Titanic

ITV1' new four-part series Titanic starts on Sunday, 25th March. This series that is reported as costing £2.5 million an hour was commissioned to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the White Star liner in 1912. The budget is twice that spent on Downton Abbey and, again, the screenplay was written by Julian Fellowes. Three foreign broadcasters have co-financed the series. These are ABC in the US, ZDF in Germany and TFI in France. The production has 82 people in the main cast and used a number of large sets that include 60-metre promenade deck and 50-metre boat deck.  

New Tricks repeat episode Dark Chocolate tonight

© BBC - Wall to Wall Television
Neil Stuke in character as Duncan Miller

BBC1 is showing a repeat episode called Dark Chocolate from series seven of New Tricks at 9.00pm tonight. UCOS pursue a serial rapist when a recent assault at a bakery is linked to two attacks at a chocolate factory ten years previously. But Duncan Miller's chocolate factory hides many dark secrets, and the team find themselves with more cases than they bargained for.

Kidnap and Ransom continues tonight on ITV1

© ITV - Projector Pictures
Trevor Eve in character as Dominic King

Dominic King tries to negotiate the release of the hostages on Kidnap and Ransom tonight at 9.00pm on ITV1. He is trying to get them off the bus before anyone realises that the daughter of the British Foreign Secretary is on board the bus. This story was inspired by the hijacking of a bus in Rio de Janeiro in 1993.

Scott & Bailey series 2 starts on Monday 12th March!

The second series of Scott & Bailey starts at 9.00pm on Monday, 12th March on ITV1. Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharpe reunite for another series of the popular police drama.

Rachel & Bailey return for a second series on ITV1

© ITV - Red Production Company
Ben Batt and Suranne Jones in character as
DC Kevin Lumb and DC Rachel Bailey

Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp resume their partnership in a new eight-episode series of the northern based crime drama Scott & Bailey. In the first two-part story Syndicate 9 investigates a series of grisly and brutal murders. Nadia Hicks has several convictions for supplying drugs, assault and prostitution. But is she also a killer? Currently on probation, Nadia is described as "like a wall with perm". The first body to be discovered has been set on fire and dumped. Then the police team discover that Nadia was in a pub with the victim some months before and could have been the last person to see him alive. When a second victim is found it is established that both men may have been held and tortured for up to a week before their murders. 

It's election time on Waterloo Road tonight

© BBC - Shed Productions
Darcy Isa in character as Lauren Andrews

On Waterloo Road at 8.00pm on BBC1 it's the day of the head boy and head girl elections, but Lauren has other priorities as she sets her sights on a modelling career. She shines in front of the camera at an audition, only to be told that she's not right for them and that surgery could help her. She hits upon a moneymaking scheme to raise the necessary funds, but some careful words from good friend Josh make her reconsider. Trudi clashes with Michael over his anti-gang measures and arranges a protest. Impressed by her leadership qualities, Michael appeals to Trudi to work with him. Elsewhere, Josh's drug problem lands him into deep trouble with Tom; Matt is shocked when Rosie goes into premature labour and Maggie challenges Grantly for setting up direct competition against her cosmetic company.


The BBC have released the following preview clip:

Family Day at the prison on Prisoners' Wives tonight

© BBC - Tiger Aspect Productions
Polly Walker in character and Iain Glenn in
character as Francesca and Paul

On Prisoners' Wives tonight at 9.00pm on BBC1 Gemma is distressed when she discovers that Andy has been released on police bail because of insufficient evidence. Detective Hunter reassures her that she has to stay calm and keep acting normally with Steve while they build a case against him and Andy. But when Gemma visits Steve - on Family Day at the prison - she starts to fear that Steve knows she has betrayed him. Meanwhile Paul sends Francesca an anniversary card containing a map, detailing where they can sneak off to have sex on family day. It seems like mission impossible, but will they pull it off? Lou moves in with Harriet and is fitted with an electronic tag. But with Mason still in care, will she get him back and how will she break the news to an unsuspecting Sean? And with Harriet's attentions firmly focussed on helping Lou and Mason, Gavin starts to feel usurped, jealous and angry. What will he do next?

A babysitter is murdered in Whitechapel tonight

© ITV - Carnival Films
Rupert Penry-Jones and Phil Davis in character
as DS Ray Miles and DI Joseph Chandler

A new two-part story begins tonight on Whitechapel when a babysitter is murdered and a dangerous patient and former Whitechapel resident escapes from a psychiatric unit, the area is hit by a series of terrifying events. Fearing that a spree killer is on the loose, Chandler, Miles and the team must act fast to prevent more deaths. Meanwhile, Chandler's quest to bring in a suspect alive jeopardises his relationship with Miles. Stars Rupert Penry-Jones, Phil Davis, Steve Pemberton, Hannah Walters, and Sam Stockman.

It's time for a review of the Endangered Species Project on Wild at Heart

© ITV - Company Pictures
Cast of Wild at Heart

Wild at Heart continues tonight and, as Danny and Ed prepare for a review of the Endangered Species Project, a mystery woman arrives, claiming to be Ed's wife. The family are shocked, as they had no idea that Ed was married. Meanwhile, Rosie investigates some seemingly unrelated animal deaths and uncovers a shocking link between them. Stars Stephen Tompkinson, Robert Bathurst, Lucy-Jo Hudson, Deon Stewardson, and Hayley Mills.

Sir Hallam tries to help wartime Jewish children refugees on Upstairs Downstairs

© BBC - Masterpiece
Alex Kingston and Keely Hawes in character
as Dr Blanche Mottershead and Lady Agnes

Upstairs Downstairs continues at 9.00pm on BBC1 tonight. After being told she can have no more children, Lady Agnes distracts herself by throwing a dinner party for the Kennedys. During the evening, she catches the eye of charismatic multimillionaire Caspar Landry, a guest at the party, who is instantly won over by her kindness. Sir Hallam and Lady Agnes are thrilled when he is offered a job in America but their reverie is short lived when the horrors of Kristallnacht hit 165.